Improved step attachment foe berths



@einen faire atmt @Hita i EDWIN HCYT AND EDWARD E. WHITNEY, CE STAMECED, CONNECTICUT.

' vLetters Patent No. 62,850, dated March 12, 1867.

IMPROVBD STEP ATTACHMENT FOR BERTHS.v

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: ..9

Be it known that we, EDWIN HOYT and EDWARD P. WHITNEY, of Stamford. in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Step Attachment for Berths; and wc do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part Vof this specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a means whereby a person may ascend to and descend from berths in vessels and railway vehicles with greater ease and comfort than can at present be done. V'

Our invention consists in the combination with a berth, in a steam or other vessel, or in a railway vehicle, of a step or rest for the foot located intermediately between the berths, (or between the door and a berth,) whereby a person can reach an upper berth and descend from it with far greater facility and with less embarrassmentthan heretofore. In the accompanying drawingi Figure 1 is a'front elevation of one form of my invention showing it as applied to a tier of berths.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the plane of the line x x, fig. 1.

A A A designate the sidesor front rails of' a tier of berths in the cabin of a steamboat. B B designa-te ltwo swinging arms, which are secured to the front rails of the upperand middle berths respectively. These arms'may be made of any suitable material. We have shown them as made of wood, but doubtless an ornamental framework of cast iron would be preferable, as` it would be strong, durable, and inexpensive. In the present instance each arm B B lis pivoted to a metallic clamp, a, which is constructed so that it can be placed over the edge of the front rail of the berth and hold the arm pendent therefrom, or allow vof its being folded or swung up,- so as to lic parallel with the front rail of the berth, and thus place the arm entirely out of the way of the occupant of the berth underneath, as 'shown in red outline in fig. 1, with reference to theupper berth. This clamp a will permit the arm to be moved along the berth to any place desired. We will remark that there are many ways in which the arms may be secured to the berths and have the capacity of being' swung or. folded out of the way. For instance, if they were to be attached permanently to the berth, (and not be removable as those we have illustrated,) they cou-ld be pivoted or hinged directly to the side or front rails ofthe berths, or to a. plate affixed thereto. C is a step orrcsting place for the foot. Such step is hinged to each arm B, so as to be capable of being folded up against the said arm. 'This step forms a bearing for the foot, and an intermediate step or rest for the foot between-the berths, so that a person stepping tiret upon the rail of the lowest berth, (or-upon a step pendent from the lowest berth, if it be elevated above an easy stepping distance from the loor,) then upon the step on the arm secured to the middle berth, then upon the step on the arm secured 'to the upper berth, will enable a person with great case to ascend to an upper berth, and when he has reached his berth, by stretching out one hand, he can fold `or swing up the arm parallel with the front rail of the berth,and by a button, I), or other catch,sccure it in that position. Apin or peg, c,.securcd to the front rail of the berths, prevents the arms or step-supports B from swinging away from a proper position when the foot is placed upon the step, as is obvious. It is not necessary that the clamp a should be used for attaching the arm B to the side rail of the berth, asit is very evident that the said arm could belpivoted directly to the side'rail of the berth, and have precisely the same folding function as'it would if the clamp a were used.

What we claim as our invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The device herein described, consisting of the arm B and folding step C, constructed substantially as herein specified, to serve as a resting place for the foot for facilitating ascent to and descent from berths in steam and. other vessels and railway vehicles. i

EDWIN HOYT, EDWARD P. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, 'lnADDEUs B. BEECHER. 

